'Smokie' links return to Wrigley Field

No, they aren't the original "Smokie Links" that Cubs fans have demanded back for decades, but there's no denying the need for a return of smoked sausages to the Friendly Confines.

On Friday, that return became official as the Cubs introduced "Wrigley Field Smokies" as the Cubs returned home to face the Pirates.

Unlike the original Oscar-Mayer product that graced the stands up until the 1980s, the Cubs have partnered with Vienna Beef to create a six-inch, hickory-smoked sausage that will also be available in area stores by the Fourth of July.

Earlier this year, Wrigley Field executives said they would break out new dishes to honor the Cubs' heritage.

“Our fans have been asking if we’d bring smoked sausages back to Wrigley Field for years,” said Colin Faulkner, the Cubs vice president of sales and partnerships in a statement. “We’re thrilled to collaborate with Vienna Beef to bring back a piece of our history in a new and delicious way.”